The Winnipeg Sea Bears clinched their first Canadian Elite Basketball League title, triumphing over the Brampton Honey Badgers with a score of 98-84 in the championship game held at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Simon Hildebrandt, a local star, sealed the victory with a three-pointer as the Sea Bears’ leading scorer, Xavier Moon, contributed 29 points, including three successful three-point shots, along with seven rebounds and six assists.
Moon, a three-time CEBL MVP, earned his third Finals MVP accolade this season after aiding Winnipeg in overcoming the absence of the injured star forward Teddy Allen. Moon expressed his jubilation, stating, “It’s crazy to be back in this environment again. I mean, obviously, familiar territory for me for winning, but to do it in a city that’s never won a playoff game, I think it means a lot more.”
Sea Bears guard Jelani Watson-Gayle impressed with five three-pointers off the bench, while Hildebrandt contributed 24 points, including four three-pointers. Despite a strong effort from Honey Badgers’ Sean East II, who scored 27 points, and Trentyn Flowers, who added 20 points, Brampton trailed at both halftime and heading into the final quarter.
Sea Bears’ new head coach, Mike Raimbault, expressed his joy for the team and the city, remarking, “I’m just super happy for everybody that is out there celebrating today and that it came to fruition because the organization did definitely deserve a championship.”
The CEBL championship, initially planned as a three-game series, was altered to a single-game format after the first game was suspended and subsequently canceled due to court condensation issues. This change was agreed upon by both teams and the league to determine the champion efficiently. The Sea Bears emerged victorious after a successful playoff run, while the Honey Badgers, aiming for their second title, fell short in the final.
Both teams had to overcome tough opponents in the playoffs to secure their spots in the championship game. Despite the loss, East II acknowledged the team’s efforts and progress, stating, “We fought hard. We dealt with adversity. Not the outcome we wanted. We turned the Brampton program around so we can be happy about that for sure.”